MAKING FUTURE PROVISION

Two things that will always characterize the frugal are foresight and self discipline. These two things are the epitome of wisdom. The frugal are wise. Thus, by definition, the spendthrift is foolish. The frugal are spiritual and future oriented and by contrast, the spendthrift lives in the immediate moment and is visibly oriented. One thinks ahead and the other acts upon impulse. One understands the consequences of his actions and makes appropriate plans, while the other is continually trapped by consequences and never comprehends cause and effect.

The Lord Jesus Christ gives us a parable that contrasts the wise and the foolish with regard to future provision in Matthew 25:3-4, "They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps." We are not told why the foolish did not take any extra oil with them. It could be that they had made no provision for this future exigency. Since the foolish live in the present moment, it makes sense that they would not think of the future. Their lack of foresight prevents them from considering making present provision for the future.

The wise took extra oil with them because they had made provision. Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines provision as "The act of providing or making previous preparation." This is the definition of foresight. To make previous preparations means one understands the spiritual term of preplanning. This can only be accomplished by the wise. This is the hallowed ground that the foolish never tread. The reason that the foolish do not tread here is because their minds do not think in spiritual terms. If they did, then they would no longer be foolish but wise.

The parable of the wise and foolish virgins is a parable about provision. The wise take present action with an eye toward the future. The foolish have no concept of the future. They are bound in the present moment. The wise are busy making provision for the future while the foolish are making no provision for the future but spending everything they have and going into debt. The foolish are reactive. They act upon impulse and the wise act upon planning.

Knowing this beforehand means that the wise have an emergency fund. This emergency fund is in a highly liquid form. Even the wise can lose a job or have an unexpected car repair or some other emergency. By having an emergency fund, the wise will be able to smooth over these rough financial spots. The foolish have no emergency fund. When the unexpected comes, the foolish are not prepared for it. They will either have to borrow to pay off the bill or they will end up declaring bankruptcy.

Most of all, the foolish will vote for the government to provide them with emergency funds. When this happens the opposite principle of what the Lord Jesus was seeking to teach in this parable takes place. The government takes from the provisions of the wise by force and gives them to the foolish. All that this does is allow the foolish to continue to be foolish. This moral inversion penalizes the wise and rewards the foolish. Despite the government’s efforts, the moral of the story is, it is always wise to make future provision.